Page 82 of One Good Crash

Just great. More cursing.I said, "Is there a reason you're telling me this? I mean, obviously, you don't mean it as some sort of compliment, so I can't help but wonder why you chose to spend your last minute on this."

"I'll tell you why," he said, "because there's monsters in this world who'd like nothing better than to take a bite out of someone like you." A new edge crept into his voice. "And if you ever forget that, ask me. I'll remind you."

His statement was filled with so many contradictions that I didn't know where to begin. Like, why would I askhim?I barely knew him.

In fact, odds were pretty good that I'd never see him again. My heart clenched at the thought, even if hewasbeing a total jerk at the moment.

I looked down at the watch. "Time's up."

"Wrong," he said. "I've got ten more seconds."

I crossed my arms and waited, silently counting down even as he said, "If I knew your dad, I'd beat his ass for letting you live with that woman."

Great.Now he'd insultedbothof my parents. I gave him my snottiest smile. "Sorry, but I don't evenknowmy dad, so I guess you're out of luck."

With that, I stood. "And just so you know, I'm sending Allie down in fifteen minutes. And unless you're some kind of welcher, you'll give her an honest chance."

Chapter 35

I was sitting in a chair just inside the front door when I spotted Jax's brother coming down the main stairway.

At the sight of me, he stopped in mid-step. "You're still here," he said, not looking too happy about it.

I gave him a stiff smile. "Yes. I'm still here."

"I know. That's what I just said."

God, did he have to be such a smart-ass?"Goodie for you," I muttered.

He was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt with a white skull on the front. I couldn’t decide if he looked more like a college student or some kind of bad-ass. In truth, he looked like both, just like his brother.

Jaden said, "So, what are you sitting there for?"

"I'm waiting."

"For what?"

I really didn't want to say. A half-hour earlier, I'd practically dragged Allie into Jax's office for the impromptu job interview.

From my current vantage point, I couldn't quite see his office door, but if things went South, I was in a good spot to catch Allie if she decided to make a break for it.

It was for her sake, not mine. Shestilldidn't know about the visit from the police, because I hadn't told her.

Oh sure, I'dwantedto tell her, but I couldn't risk upsetting her right before the interview. I wanted Jax to see her at her best, not worried and glancing over her shoulder.

As Jaden cleared the bottom step, I mumbled something about waiting for Allie.

He made a scoffing sound. "The psycho?"

I glared up at him. "She's not a psycho."

"Could've fooled me."

"Oh yeah? Well, maybe you caught her on a bad day. You ever think of that?"

"No. I was too busy watching my nuts."

"What?"